Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Villain and Slime
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The rift in space-time, the boundary between dimensions.
From the dawn of time, it had existed.
A drifting void at the edge of nothingness and existence. The dimension's janitor.
Its sole role was one thing: to annihilate any foreign matter that slipped between dimensions.
Without consciousness, emotion, or ego. Just a pure function operating like a law of the universe.
Like a black hole devouring stars, it was merely a cosmic phenomenon.
The same went for when the gate opened above Cheongryongsan Mountain.
It naturally drifted toward the fissure. Toward the place brimming with unnecessary energy.
Kraaaah! Grrr! Kieeeek!
The monsters' howls and desperate struggles meant nothing.
The moment they touched the void's essence, the monsters began to break down and vanish.
Gulp—
This act was merely a natural phenomenon, devoid of purpose or intent. Just as a storm held no anger, it harbored no emotions.
But this time... something was different.
A foreign energy seeping in from outside the gate. A gray glow, a vibration unlike any it had ever sensed.
Gray Matter born from the King's DNA.
A power that defied the laws of the universe. An energy that blurred the line between reality and possibility.
Involuntarily, it was drawn toward that energy.
Something it had never felt in billions of years rippled within it.
Curiosity...?
For the first time, its "movement" gained "intent."
The void's existence sought to cross the gate's boundary.
It tried repeatedly. Failed. Tried again. Failed once more.
And finally, in the chaotic moment when the gate's energy collapsed, a tiny fragment of the void slipped into the real world.
Exposed to the physical laws of reality, its infinite existence shrank dramatically.
An existential shock.
Sensations of the real world for the first time.
Gravity pulled at its form.
Air brushed against its surface.
Sound transmitted as vibrations.
Light reflected off its surface.
It was disorienting. Terrifying. Every sensation was alien.
The weakened void fragment instinctively hid behind a rock.
And it wished. To feel that special energy once more.
"Huh? What are you? Did you come out of the gate?"
It focused its awareness on the voice's source. And saw. A horn glowing on the girl's forehead. Energy emanating from that horn.
That special—no, blissful—vibration.
Squuu~
An emotion expressed for the first time.
The pink slime wobbled unstably, emitting a sound. Expressing itself.
"You're hungry? But you look ridiculously weak for a monster."
It shrank back further. The word "weak" stirred its first feeling of "shame." To become such a powerless being from the infinite void.
The girl cautiously reached out and stroked the slime.
The moment of contact. Gray Matter meets the void.
The two energies resonated. It was overwhelmed by the shock. What was this sensation?
"You needn't fear this body! This body is the world's strongest villain, but tormenting weak, pitiful things like you isn't my hobby!"
It was warm. Bright. Beneath the girl's hand, it felt "comfort" for the first time.
"Hmm... hold on. Let me see if I have anything to eat..."
The girl rummaged in her pocket and pulled something out. The void fragment took interest in the object. It was energy. A different kind.
"Ah, this! This is Dark Circle Doctor's... no, this body's chocolate. I'll share it specially!"
A brown rectangular lump was placed before the slime, and the void fragment absorbed it without hesitation. Plastic wrapper and all.
And in that instant, the world changed.
Sweetness.
For a being that had only absorbed dimensional impurities and monsters across countless eons, "sweetness" was an entirely new shock.
More crucially, it was the Gray Matter energy clinging to the chocolate. That energy triggered changes within the void.
Its pink hue sharpened. Its body grew to the size of a softball. Inside, the spark of ego began to flicker to life.
"Whoa, so squishy. Fluffy yet chewy!"
Squ squ!
It rubbed against the girl's hand, expressing affection.
"Joy" felt for the first time. "Gratitude" expressed for the first time.
"Hm, cuter than expected. This body doesn't usually like cute things... but you're a special exception! Still, you're small, no attack power... you'd struggle to survive in the wild, huh?"
It felt fear. Of being left alone in this world.
"A weak little monster like you might get eaten by wild dogs or deer..."
Loneliness. Yet another new emotion. The void fragment wanted to stay by this special girl's side.
By this special energy. By this warmth.
"That's it! This body will specially protect you! Now, choose! Will you come with this body? Or die alone in this harsh mountain? I offer you the chance to become a subordinate of the great villain Grimoire!"
Choice.
From the beginning, the void had never chosen. It merely followed the universe's laws.
But now, it understood the concept of "choice." And it chose.
Squ squ squ squ~!
The answer was already decided.
The void fragment bounced in joy, squealing. This was undoubtedly a "yes."
"Good! From now on, you're 'Squishy'!"
A name.
From the dawn of time, the void had no name. A name is identity. Individuality.
For the first time, the concept of "I" formed. The void, which had existed only as a "phenomenon," now gained an "ego."
I... am Squishy.
It was no longer "it." Now, it was "Squishy."
The void—no, Squishy—glowed a brighter pink, filled with joy.
Squ squ!!
It bounced at the girl's feet, expressing its delight.
"Squishy! I acknowledge you as this body's third subordinate! You'll join this body's world conquest plan from now on!"
Chit—?
Darkness and White King poked at Squishy warily with their tiny paws.
Squuu?
Squishy shrank back, then mustered courage and made a small sound. Instinctively, it sensed these mice weren't ordinary animals. Special energy emanated from them too.
"What? My subordinates must get along! You two, take good care of Squishy! All this body's minions must be one team!"
Squishy hopped onto Grimoire's palm.
It flowed softly between her fingers, shaping itself into a tiny crown.
"Oh! Look at this! It made a crown shape! It recognizes this body as its king!"
Grimoire, delighted, placed Squishy atop her head. Squishy settled between her horns, letting out a soft squ squ.
Now, it was no longer a void. Squishy was a being with a name.
A being that could choose. A being that could love.
From dimension's janitor to villain's minion. From unconsciousness to ego. From void to existence.
A paradox of the universe. The infinite being found meaning only by becoming finite.
"Hey! No fighting! Squishy is your comrade from now on! You all need to get along! It's not a good look when my minions bicker!"
At my stern scolding, Darkness and White King fell silent.
Those rascals, trying to bully the new subordinate!
Squ squ!
Squishy glowed even brighter pink with joy. Bouncing on my palm, it looked pretty cute.
Wait, cute? A villain's minion is cute?
"Hmph, I just mean it's soft and nice. This body doesn't like cute things!"
I carefully tucked Squishy into my bag. At first, it rolled around, but soon settled down, perching contentedly on a bag of snacks.
"Alright, Squishy. Stay in here for now. Be good! Got it?"
Squ squ! Squu squ squ!
"Shh! I said be quiet! If Everlin hears, we're in big trouble!"
I hurriedly zipped the backpack halfway and soothed Squishy.
Phew... hiding it for now worked, but the real problem comes after we get home.
Everlin.
My perfect, loyal, and most beautiful maid in the world.
What would Everlin think of this pink blob? Suddenly, ominous memories flashed through my mind.
Squ?
"...Ugh, Everlin will definitely nag me for picking up something weird again and tell me to throw it out right away..."
A past incident suddenly came to mind.
First incident.
"Master, what is this?"
Everlin's expression was her usual stoic one, but a dangerous edge laced her voice.
What she held with tongs was the glowing fluorescent "magic stone" I'd fished from a sewer.
"This is a magic gem this body discovered! See how it glows? It must have special powers! It'll be useful for world conquest!"
Everlin silently pulled out a device and scanned the stone. Her eyes narrowed slightly at the machine's warning beep.
"Master, this isn't a 'magic stone.' It's radioactive waste."
"Radio... what?"
"A radioactive substance. Dangerous material that destroys human cells."
Everlin placed the stone in a lead container and contacted someone via intercom. The hazardous materials disposal team.
"Master and I are immune to this level of radiation, but it could be fatal to other ordinary residents. I'll dispose of it immediately."
"But couldn't it be useful for conquering the world? Make the enemies sick and..."
Everlin's gaze turned icy.
"That's not villainy, Master. That's an accident."
Another memory.
"Master, what are these?"
Everlin entered my room and pointed to a wooden box on the floor. Inside were the stag beetles I'd caught in the back mountains.
"Ah, these are this body's new minions! King—no, emperor stag beetles! I've already got ten!"
I proudly showed them off and explained. Everlin examined the box closely.
"Master, these aren't stag beetles. They're D-Rank monsters, 'Woodcutters.'"
"What? These little things are monsters?"
Then a strange noise came from the living room. I rushed over to find one of my "stag beetles" had sliced the dining table leg clean in half.
"S-See? How strong my minions are! ...Kek!"
But my laughter died quickly. Black flames began flickering from Everlin's hand.
"Master, would you close your eyes for a moment?"
The next instant, crackling sounds filled the room, then silence.
When I opened my eyes, the beetles were gone without a trace—"processed."
Everlin said with a blank face,
"Please consult me before bringing in any living creatures from now on. And no dessert for this week."
We had to buy all new furniture. After that, I swore off bugs.
And the most horrific, the stone mask incident.
"Master, is the source reliable?"
Everlin eyed the stone mask suspiciously from the delivery box.
"O-Of course! One hundred percent trustworthy seller! Good reviews too! It transcends humanity!"
"From Amazon, I presume."
"How did you kn—Anyway, that's not important! With this on, this body will become an even mightier villain!"
Brimming with curiosity, I pressed the mask to my face. Suddenly, sharp spikes shot out from it.
"Eek!"
Kikik!
But the spikes couldn't pierce my head and snapped off. The mask itself shattered.
"Hm, must've been a defective product. Time to get a refund."
Everlin sighed softly and said quietly,
"I'll go clean up... And Master, no dessert for a week again."
"What!? What did this body do wrong!?"
"Eek...! If Everlin catches me, it'll be no dessert again...!"
Squ?
I clutched the bag tight, and Squishy wiggled with a cute sound.
"But this time's different! Squishy is totally harmless and cute! Not chemicals or a monster... well, is it a monster? Anyway, how dangerous can something this small and squishy be?!"
Chit chit?
Darkness and White King exchanged dubious looks, as if asking, "You really think that?"
"Even you two doubt this body? You question a villain's judgment? Squishy will definitely be an excellent minion!"